Your local Boise Electrician

July, 2015

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While going green and becoming more eco-friendly is the current craze, many people aren’t informed of all the ways you can go green. This is why we offer going green tips! When thinking about going green people turn to many different alternative ways of living. Some of the most common are changing modes of transportation, and altering how they get electricity to power their homes.Solar power is commonly thought of as the way to go when looking to change your energy source. Did you know there are other alternatives as well?
Simple changes can be made inside your home with the flip of a switch. We don’t mean just turning the power off, although that will save you a lot of money, but could also get a little tricky at times. Here are some additional money saving options:

• Dimmer installations: by using a dimmer you don’t have to use 100% of the energy a light bulb can put out, especially in a room where you don’t need that much light.

• Whole house fans: These work great during those summer nights when it cools down nicely. Whole house fans operate by taking in all the cool air from outside and bringing it inside your home, creating a pleasant cooling breeze throughout your home. Your house will cool down to a temperature that is close to outside, and you won’t have to run the air conditioner for nearly as long.

• Ceiling fans: While these have been around for a while, they are great at saving electricity. They circulate the air in a room and the constant movement of air helps make the room feel cooler.

• LED Lighting Installation: The change is as simple as changing your light bulbs. LED light bulbs do cost more when you originally purchase them, but they pay for themselves in the long run. They last for years and use less energy to operate.

Going green isn’t as hard as some people think it is. You can become eco-friendly in your home tonight if you wish! There are many other ways to start saving money on your electric bill and Eco Electric can help you! Eco Electric provides installation services for whole house fans, ceiling fans, dimmers switches and LED lighting as well as many other electrical services.

In our opinion, the right way to celebrate the 4th of July is to spend the day outdoors with friends and family while celebrating our national independence. This may include barbecues, swimming, attending local fireworks, and even setting off some of your own legal fireworks. Because of this, the 4th of July doesn’t have a whole lot to do with electricity. It is the one day of the year when most of us would prefer to be outside. Despite the nature of the holiday as an outdoor affair, we at Eco Electric want to talk about sustainability. Solar panels may not provide much entertainment to your celebrations but there are still a lot of environmentally friendly ways to celebrate the holiday. These methods, while saving the planet, can also help you get more bang for your buck!

1) Reusable party ware: Ditch the disposable plates, cups, and silverware and go with washable dishware. If you are having a party, you might even consider a “bring your own plate” theme with competitions for ugliest, and most unique plates. Additionally, you can turn the event into a dish swap, where party-goers exchange dishes with one another. Benefits: less landfill, fewer dishes to wash afterword, new tradition

2) Reuse decorations: Decorations for the 4th of July remain the same every year. You have probably noticed this at some point in your life. This year, instead of throwing out your decorations and sending them to the local landfill, consider saving the decorations for next year. Benefits: less landfill, time and money savings next year

3) The more the merrier: Larger groups use less energy than individuals (or smaller groups). Think of inviting additional people to your party. You might even consider a potluck-style party to cut down on food costs. Benefits: lower electricity use than individual celebrations, more people to celebrate with, increased variety of food

4) Attend a public fireworks show: Public firework shows tend to be much more thrilling than the individuals ones. Part of this is due to the fact that they can use fireworks that are illegal for the general public to buy, but it also involves atmosphere, choreographed shows, music, and getting out of the house to celebrate. Benefits: less pollution from personal fireworks, sense of community, increased safety, firework purchase savings

5) Make your own popsicles: The 4th of July is generally hot. Popsicles can, however, make the heat more tolerable. Consider making your own popsicles. You can google a recipe and then use a popsicle mold to get the right shape. Benefits: healthier, reusable, fun family activity, decreased waste from popsicle wrappers and sticks

However you choose to celebrate, the staff at Eco Electric wishes you a fun and safe 4th of July!